Magnetically operated device



Feb. 7, 1950 G. H. LELAND 2,496,880

MAGNETICALLY OPERATED DEVI CE Filed June 26, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 H675I H 29 NVENTOR v I BYqamrMAZAl/fl Feb. 7, 1950 G. H. LELAND MAGNETICALLYOPERATED DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 26, 1944 A n v u v I I r I vv A l I a v i i v v1 INVENTOR 62609627115144? ATTORNEY Feb. 7, 1950 G.H. LELAND 2,496,880

MAGNETICALLY OPERATED DEVICE Filed June 26, 1944 4 Sheets-Shee t s INVENTOR Gama/Man);

ATTORN EY solenoid.

Pat entedFeb. 1; 1950 UNITED srares 1 PATENT orrlca Manna-nostrilorgan-ran pence George H. cine v Application June :0, rm, No. 54am l iThis invention relates toa magnetically oper- 9 cam lotus-fem embodimentof the invention; Fig. 17 is a side ated device and more particularly toa rotary One object magnetically operated device in which the movementotfthe armature by the magnet will impart rotatory movement to a partconnected with the armature. A 1 I A further object of the invention isto provide such a device in which the energization oftho magnet willimpart to the armature both axial movement and rotatory movement; Afurther object of the invention such a device in which the movement ofthe armature by the magnet would impart rotatory movement to a shafthaving means for controlling the movement of a device to be operated.

is to provide of the invention is to provide embodiments of theinvention showingitsapplication to' different uses. In each of theseilluselevation, partly broken away; Fig. 18 is a section taken on theline "-18 of Fig. 17; Fig. 19 is a Y eectiontaken on line l8- -ll ofFig. 16; Fig. 20 is a sectional vview of another embodiment of theinvention; and Fig. 21 is a side elevation of the deviceof Fig. 20.

In these drawings I have illustrated several trative embodiments thereis shown an electromagnet, an armature movable toward the magnet by theenergization of the latter, and a shaft connected with the armature forrotation thereby A further object of the invention is to provide such adevice which will impart successive step by step movements in the samedirection to a device to be operated.

p A further'object of the invention is to provide I such a device whichwill impart substantially continuous rotation to the armature orto apart connected therewith.

A further object oi theinvention is to provide V such a device oneoperation ofwhich will move a part to be actuated to a predeterminedposition and the next succeeding operation of which will j restore saidpart to its initial position.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device which willbe of a simple compact construction.

Other objects of the invention may appear as the device is described indetail.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is an elevation of one end ota.device-embodying the invention; Fig; 2 is an elevation of the other endof said device; Fig. 3 is a sectiontakenon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig.4 is a side elevation of the device; Fig. 5 is a section taken on theline 5 5 of Fig; 1; Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 8-6 of Fig. 5;Fig. 'l is an elevation of a modified form of the device; Fig. 8 is anelevation of the other end of the device of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a sectiontaken on the line 9 -.9 of Fig. I; Fig. 10 is a side plate and armatureto rotate. The drawings 7 show the several devices in the preferredforms view of the 'device of Fig. '7; Fig. 11 is a side eleva- 1 tion ofanother embodiment 'of the invention; Fig. 12 is a section taken on theline i2--i2 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a top the upper plate of Fig. 11;Fig. 14 is a section taken on the line "-44 0! Fig. 1i, and looking inthe direction of the arrows; Fig. 15 is a section taken on the lineil-l! of Fig. 13; Fig. 18 is a top lan view, partly broken away, of.another plan view of a portion of when the armature is moved by themagnet. The

' shaft is preferablyrigldly connected with-the armature andthe lattercaused to rotate the magnet,'and balls betweenthe plate and the fiixedpart, the plate orthe fixed part, or both .of them, being provided withcam surfaces so arranged with relation to the balls that the action ofthe cam surfaces on the balls will cause the and arrangements but it isto be understood that the device as a whole and the several'partsthereof may take various forms and arrangements without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

1 That embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1- to 6comprises a stationary structure which includes an electro-magnetand'supports other parts of the device. the form of a metallic casing,including an annular cup-shaped member 2| and a closure '22, which formspart of the magnet. The closure is rigidly secured to the member 2i andis provided with an inwardly extending axial enlargement II, and amagnetizing coil 23a is mounted in the casing about the enlargement 23.An armature 24 is supported adjacent the enlarged portion oi the magnetfor movement toward and from the same, and a shaft 25 or non-magneticmetal, such as stainless steel, is connected with the armature forrotatory movement thereby. when a the armature ismoved toward themagnet. This movement may be imparted to the shaft in any suitablemanner but preferably the armature is mounted Ior'rotatory movement andis rigidly secured to the shaft. Rotatory movement is imparted to thearmature by the movement of the This structure. is in I 2,4oo,sao

and is supported thereby in the opening in the wall 26, the armaturebeing circular in form so that it may have rotatory movement as well asaxial movement with relation to the magnet. In this form of the devicethe means for imparting rotatory movement to the armature comprises aplate 29, here shown as substantially triangular in form, which isconnected with the armature for axial movement therewith and, in thepresent instance, is rigidly secured to the armature for both axial androtatory movement therewith. This plate is arranged on the outer side ofand in opposed relationto the wall 26 of the casing and the opposedsurfaces of the wall and plate are each provided with a plurality, inthe present instance three, arcuate recesses or grooves and 3|, therecesses in the plate being opposed to the corresponding recesses in thewall. The bottom wall of at least one of the recesses of each pair isinclined lengthwise of the recess, and preferably the bottom walls 32and 33, of both recesses, are inclined in opposite directions, as shownin Fig. 5. The recesses are so arranged that when the armature is in itsnormal or inoperative position the shallow end portions of the recessesof each pair will be in. overlapping relation one to the other.Rotatable elements, preferably balls 34, are supported in the respectivepairs of recesses and are located between the shallow overlapping endportions of the recesses when the armature is in its normal position.When the magnet is energized and the armature moves toward the same thepressure of the plate on the balls causes the plate to rotate as itmoves axially, due to the inclined or cam surfaces of the recesses. Theplate moves with relation to the balls and the balls move with relationto the recesses in the wall until each ball is in the deeper portions ofits recesses, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, at which time isrigidly secured to the shaft, as by a pin I310 the plate in proper Thereverse movement of the armature will of course move the shaft in areverse direction, both axially and rotatorily, and this reversemovement is limited not only by the engagement of the balls with theends of the recesses but also by a collar 31 secured to that end of theshaft opposite the armature and preferably seated in a recess in theclosure 22'. A spring washer 3| confined between the collar recess inthe closure I urges the armature and the plate 29 toward the magnet andthus maintains engagement with the balls. To enable the armature and theparts connected therewith to be manually operated, when this is theballs engage the end walls of the recesses and prevent further rotationof the plate and armature.

To increase the torque on the armature at the beginning of .its axialmovement, when the pull of the magnet thereon is relatively weak, theinclination of the bottom surface of each recess maybe slightly greateradjacent the shallow end thereof than it is at the deeper end, as shownat 35. In the present instance each bottom surface is curved and thecurvature decreases as it approaches the deeper end of the recess. Theplate and armature will be retained in the posi-' tions to which theyhave been rotated as long as the magnet is energized and for most pur-'poses it is desirable that they should be restored to their initialpositions as soon as the magnet is deenergized. For this purpose a lightspring is so connected with the armature that it willbe placed undertension by the rotation of the armature and will move the same inareverse direction when the armature is released. In the arrangementhere shown a coil spring 36 is connected with the plate and with a fixedpart adjacent the plate. 7

- is provided with a a manually actuate d device may be connecteddesirable, the end of the shaft adjacent the collar slot or recess bymeans of which therewith.

The device of Figs. 1 to 6 is designed primarily to control thereleasing levers of a bomb release, for military airplanes, of the typein which there are two levers, .3! and 4|, the lever 38 controlling thebomb releasing device and the lever 4. controlling the arming of thebomb, that is, the releasing of the mechanism which operates the ilringdevice. When both levers are released the bomb is dropped and armed andwhen the lever 39 only is released the bomb is dropped in an unarmedcondition. For the purpose of this control the device is. provided witha controlling or supporting member for the levers,'which is here shownas a stud 4| connected directly with the armature, the stud and thelevers being so arranged that a partial movement of the stud willrelease one lever only and the full movement thereof will release bothlevers. Preferably the stud has a substantially cylindrical portionadjacent the armature and the outer end portion thereof has a flat orslightly concave upper surface. As shown in Fig. 1 the lever 39 is sup-.ported on the concave surface of the outer portion of the stud andextends across the major portion of that surface. The end of lever 4|extends above the cylindrical inner portion of the stud and the levermechanism, which is not shown, is of such a character that the lever 40is held in spaced relation to the stud as long as the lever llis-supported by the stud. The end of the lever 40 is preferably curvedforwardly and is so located with relation to the stud that when thelatter is moved out of engagement with the lever 39 and then stopped assoon as the lever 39 is released the lever 40 will move down-. wardlywith the lever 38 until the curved end thereof contacts the cylindricalsurface of the stud, slightly above the horizontal diameter of the stud,thus interrupting the downward movement of lever 40, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 1. By so interrupting the movement of the stud at the endof a predetermined movement thereof the lever 39 is released foroperative movement and the lever 4| is held against opera tive movement.The means for interrupting the movement of the stud 4| may take variousforms and it is here shown as comprising a solenoid 42, of ordinaryconstruction, the energization of which will move its core 43 into thepath of astop connected with the armature and, in the present instance,comprising a shoulder 44 formed on the edge of the plate 28. Thesolenoid 42 may be mounted on any suitable support ad-. jacent the edgeof the plate 29, and it is con-' nected in a separate circuit controlledby a sepa-. rate switch. Thus by closing the circuit through the mainmagnet only and imparting uninterq I1 and the bottom of the.

in advance of. the main magnet the lever 44 only will be released.

When thecontroliing device; such as the stud I 44, for connecting thesame with a conductor of here shown, is connected-directly with thearmathe parts carried thereby. The opposed surfaces ture it is notnecessary that the armature shall" be rigidly connected with the shaft,as the latter serves merely as a support for the armature. andof theenlargement 23v and the armature 24 may conical to provide; a relativelylong bearing-for the shaft. The device may be mounted on a sup-'3 1member" in a direction to successively open the several circuits, theshaft 44 and the shaft 14 of the magnetically operated device areprovided porting structure 'in any: suitable manner. and,

with threaded holes 44 to receive screws. a

In Figs. 7 to 10 there is shown aslightly modified form of the deviceabove described. In this device the structure 44, the shaft 41,thearmature '48, the plate 49, the balls 40, and the associated trollingor actuating device which is here shown as a stud 54 on which is mounteda roller 54 suitbe of anysuitable shape and are here shown as one of thelamp circuits. Mounted in this plate 4| is a shaft 44 which is rigidlyconnected, on the inner side of the plate, with a movable contact member41 which is provided with a series of contact fingers 64 correspondingto the fixed contacts 44, the contact member 61 being connected with asuitable source of electric current. The shaft 44 and the contact member41 may be rotated to bring all the contact fingers. into engagement withthe corresponding fixed contacts 44 in any suitable manner, as by a knob44 secured to the shaft 44.

For the purpose of moving the movable contact in the present instance,the closure 22 is provided I Y with cooperating members, one of which isactuated by the shaft I0 to operate the other memher. In theconstruction shown these members are in the nature of clutch members Hand I! having on their adjacent faces a cooperating series .ofratchetteeth. The clutch member I! is rigidly connected with the shaft44 and the clutch member II is rigidly connected with the magneticallyoperated shaft It. A spring 14 connected with an arm 14 secured to theshaft 14 tends to move the clutch member H to and retain the same in itsnormal 'position. The normal positions of the two clutch members aresuch that when the magnet is energized the axial movement of the shaftwill move the clutch member-Ii able for engaging and releasing the endof and v supporting the lever of a bomb release of a type slightlydifferent from that above referredto and which utilizes a single leverin the release of the bombs. nected with one end of a spring 51 theother end of which is connected with a stud 54 one. fixed A second arm46 of the lever is coninto operative relation with the clutch member 12and willthenrotate both clutch members a distance sufficient to move themovable contact 41 one step. 'When the magnet is deenergized the clutchmember II is restored to its inoperative the shaft and armature to theirinitial positions 7 when the magnet has been deenergized. The

third arm 53 is for actuating a movable part of the mechanism with whichthe device is associated, suchas actuating a switch member associatedwith the bomb release. The operation of this device is substantially thesame as that of the device previously described except that the rotatorymovement of the shaft is utilized to effect the desired control oroperation.

of the invention adapted to impart step by step movementto a part to beactuated, this form of the device having been designed primarily forcontrolling lights which indicate to the bombardierwhich bombs remain inthe bomb bay. It is custoray to arrange at the bombardiers station aseries of lamps which are associated respectively with the several bombsupporting devices in the bomb bay. As each bomb is released theassociated lamp is extinguished so that the bombardier at all timesknows which bombs remain in the bomb bay. The magnetically operateddevice of this embodiment is in general similar to the device shown inFigs. 7 to 10 and the structure 44 is mounted in and supported by aplate 40 forming a part of a main supporting structure which alsocarries the device to be operated. that is, the

switch for controlling the bomb lamps. This device to be operatedcomprises a plate 4| rigidly i In Figs. 11 to is there is shown anembodiment position but the clutch member 12 and the movable contaetmember remain in: the positions to which they are moved, Thus after themovable contact member has been moved to a position to close all thecircuits the successive energization of the magnet will move the movablecontact member step by step to successively open the lamp circuits. Theplate 4! is provided with stops l4 and 14 to limit the movement of themovable contact member and the end fingers of that contact member are ofincreased width to check the movement of the contact member with one ormore of the fingers in accurate contact position with relation to one ormore of the fixed contacts 44, and this increased width also strengthensthe end fingers and tends to prevent distortion by their contact withthe steps. In the present arrangement the stop .16 is so positioned asto interrupt the circuit opening movement of the contact member whilethe last of the contact fingers 44 is in engagement with the last of thefixed contacts 44, as in this instance it is desirable to maintain theillumination of one lamp. The plate 4| is also provided with a series ofbuttons 11 corresponding in size and shape. to .the fixed contacts whichare arranged to be engaged by and to support the contact fingers 44 and.the supporting member 41 while the fingers are out of engagement withthe fixed contacts.

That embodiment of the device illustrated in- Figs. .16 to 19 is adaptedto impart continuous associated recesses, are substantially the same asthose shown in Fig. 1 but minor changes have been made therein topermit. of and to cause con- ",tinuous rotary movement of the armature.The

ascaeao 7 plate 85, which is rigidly connected with the armature 82, isof polygonal shape so as to provide the same with a plurality of, in thepresent instance five, angles or corners which constitute actuatingpoints, as will be. hereinafter described. The plate 85 is provided witha single annular recess or ball race 86 and the wall of the structure 88is provided with a continuous ball race 81 opposed to the race 88 andhaving an undulating bottom wall 88, which in the present instance isprovided with five high points 88, the peaks of which are spaced equaldistances one from the other. Each section of the bottom wall slopesfrom the peak of one high point to the point of greatest depth of therace 81 and then slopes upwardly to the peak of the succeeding highpoint. Arranged between the plate 85 and the structure 88 is a spacingdevice 88 having openings to receive a plurality of balls 84 which movein the races 86 and 81, the centers of the openings being spaced apartthe same distances as the peaks of the high points of the race 81. Thedevice as a whole is preferably but not necessarily supported in anupright position with the structure 85 above the armature 82 so that theplate rests upon the balls. When the balls are in the positions shown inFig. 19, in which positions they are in engagement with the highportions of the race 18 just beyond the peaks, the energization of themagnet will cause the balls to move down the inclined surfaces of therace, thereby causing the plate 85, the spacer 88 and armature 82 :torotate and during the energization of the magnet these parts willacquire a momentum sufficient to carry each ball up the succeeding inf.

clined surface and over the peak of the next high point. Thus by againenergizing the magnet just after the balls pass their respective highpoints another impulse is imparted to the armature, plate and ballswhich will carry the same through another step in the rotation thereof.By intermittently energizing the magnet as the balls pass over therespective high points of the race the armature and plate may bemaintained in continuous rotation.

In order to automatically close and open the magnet circuit at theproper intervals I have provided a switch for connection in the magnetcircuit and for operation by the plate 85. This switch comprises tworesilient members 82 and 83 which are rigidly connected one with theother at one end of the switch and are mounted at that point on a fixedsupport, not shown. Adjacent their other ends the bars 82 and 88 areprovided respectively with contact points 84 and 85, the resiliency ofthe contact member 88 tending to move the contact point 85 to aninoperative position. The contact member or bar 88 is arranged to beengaged successively by the corners or actuating points 86 of the plate85. A stop 81 limits the movement of the contact bar 84 toward the plate85 and when none of the corners or actuating points of the plate 85 arein contact with the bar 83 the contacts will be separated and the magnetwill be deenergized. The contact points and balls are 50 arranged withrelation to the undulations of the race 81 thatthe actuating points ofthe plate will engage the resilient bar 88 as the balls move up theinclinations and thus move the contact 85 into engagement with thecontact 84 just as the balls move over the peaks of the respective highpoints of the race. The contact is effected an instant before the ballspass the high points but they will be on the down- Wardly slopingsurfaces by the time the energiza- 7s tion of the magnet impartsmovement to the plate. Due to the fact that the contact 85 engages thecontact 84 before the movement of the bar 88 by the plate 85 has beencompleted the resilient bar 82 will yield and both contacts 84 and 85will be. moved against the resilience thereof. Thus after the magnetshave been energized the circuit will be maintained closed until theactuating point 88 of the plate has moved far enough topermit the bar 82to engage the stop 81 and the bar 88 to move with relation to the bar 82and separate the contacts. In this manner the energization of the magnetis maintained for an interval long enough to impart the desired movementto the plate. The movement of the plate may be initiated by hand or inany other suitable manner. In the absence of other controlling means theplate 85 could be rotated to a position which would move the balls overthe high points and close the circuit through the magnet. Thereafter therotation of the plate will make and break the circuit. A device of thiskind could find its use in actuating light loads, such for example asdisplay devices or amusement' devices. The device to be operated may beconnected with the shaft or rotatable plate in any suitable manner andin some cases the device to be operated might merely be placed upon andsupported by a plate 85.

That embodiment illustrated in Figs. 20 and 21 is of such a characterthat the shaft and the part connected therewith may be moved to a givenposition by one energization of the device and then returned to itsinitial position by a second energization of the device, and it isuseful for a variety of purposes, such as opening a valve, or switch, bypressing a push button and then closing the same valve or switch bypressing a second push button. To accomplish this I have provided aduplex magnet which in the form here shown comprises a single core I88having oppositely projecting axial portions about each of which ismounted a magnetizing coil, III and I82. Supported in opposed relationto the ends of the core are two armatures I88 and I84 which are rigidlyconnected with a shaft I85 so that when one armature is attracted theother armature will be moved away from the core and the shaft will movewith the armatures. The plates I88 and I81 are rigidly connected withthe respective armatures and balls I88 are supported in inclinedrecesses in the lates and in the walls of the casing I88, which enclosesthe coils, so that as each armature moves toward the core rotatorymovement will be imparted to the plates, armatures and shaft. Thearrangement of the ball races is such that the armature I88 will rotatein one direction as it moves toward the core and the armature I84 willmove in the opposite direction as it moves toward the core. Thus byenergizing the coil I8I the armature I88 and the shaft will be movedaxially in one direction and rotatorily in one direction, the armatureI84 rotating in the same direction. when the coil I82 is energized andthe armature I84 is moved toward the core the shaft will move axially ina reverse direction and the armature I84 will rotate in a directionreverse to that in which it was rotated by the armature I88, thusrestoring the parts to the positions they occupied prior to theenergization of the coil III.

While I have shown and described several embodiments of my invention Iwish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the Idetails thereof as various other modifications may relation the firstmentioned part, said parts having in their opposed surfaces a pluralityof movement and for rotatory movement with relation thereto, a memberfixed with relation to said Y magnet, a second member connected withsaid armature for movement thereby toward the first I mentioned member,said members having a plurality of pairs of opposed inclined surfaces,androtatable elements supported between said members in rollingengagement with the inclined surfaces of the respective pairs ofsurfaces to cause said second member to rotate when it is I moved towardtheflrst mentioned member by said magnet.

2. A device comprising a' structure including an electro-magnet, anarmature supported by .said structure for movement toward and from saidmagnet, parts connected respectively with said armature and saidstructure and arranged in opposed relation oneto the other, said partshaving a plurality of pairs of opposed inclined surfaces, and rotatableelements arranged between said parts in rolling engagement with the in-.clined surfaces of the respective pairs of surfaces, the arrangement ofsaid rotatable elements with relation to said inclined surfaces beingsuch that the relative movement of said inclined surfaces and saidrotatable elements by the movement of saidarmature toward-said magnetwill impart rotary movement to said armature.

ends of said recesses, whereby the movement of said armature toward saidmagnet will impart rotary movement to .thepart connected with saidarmature. I

pairs of recesses, the recessesof each pair having inclined bottomsurfaces, and balls-supported in the respective pairs of recesses and soarranged with relation thereto that the axial movement of the firstmentioned part with said arma-' ture will impart rotatory movement tosaid first mentioned part.

'6. A device 'comprisinga structure including an electro-magnet, anarmature supported by said structure for axial movement by said magnet,a plate connected with said armature for axial *movement therewith, saidplate. and a wall of said structure having a plurality of pairsof-opposed arcuate recesses, the bottom surfaces of each pair ofrecesses being inclined in opposite directions with the shallow portionsof saidrecesses normally in overlapplng rela'tion one to the other, andballs arranged normally between said overlapping portions of therecesses of the respective pairs of recesses to cause said plate torotate when it is moved toward said wall of said structure.

7. A device comprising -a structure including an electro-magnet, anarmature supported by said structure for axial movement by said armatureand for rotatory movement, g-plate rigidly connected to said armature,said plate and a wall of said structure havlng'a plurality of pairs ofopposedarcuate recesses, each provided with an inclined bottom surface,and balls supported in the respective pairs of recesses andso arrangedwith relation thereto that the axial movement of said plate with saidarmature will impart, rotatory movement to both said plate and saidarmature.

connected to said armature, said plate and a wall of said structurehaving a plurality of pairs of 4. A device comprising a structureincluding an electro-magnet, an armature supported by said structure formovement toward and from said magnet, parts connected respectively withsaid armature and said structure and arranged in opposed relation one tothe other, said. parts having a plurality of pairs of recesses, thereceases of each pair being provided with inclined bottom surfaces, thatportion of each bottom surface which is adjacent the shallow end of itsan electro-magnet, anarmature supported by.

said structure for axial movementby said magopposed arcuaterecesses,,each recess having an inclined bottom surface, balls supportedin the respective pairs of recesses and 50 arranged with relationtheretothat the axial movement-of said plate with said armature will impartrotatory movement to both said plate and said armature. and a partconnected with said armature for controlling a device to be operated.

9. A device comprising a structure including an electro-maguet, a shaftmounted in said stru'cture,'an armature connected with said shaft foraxial movement by; said magnet, a plate secured to said armature, saidplate and a wall of said structure having a plurality of pairs ofopposed recesses, each having an elongate inclined bottom surface, ballsseated in the respective pairs of recesses and so arranged that theaxial movenet, a part connected with said armature for v f axialmovement therewith, a part fixed with relation to said structure andarranged in opposed ment of said armature by said magnet will impartrotatory movement to said plate and said armature, and means fortransmitting said rota tory movement to said shaft.

10. A device comprising a structure including 11 said shaft forcontrolling the operation of a dc-v vice to be operated.

11. A device comprising a structure including an electro-magnet andhaving an opening in one wall thereof, a shaft mounted in said structurefor both axial and rotatory movement, an arma-' ture rigidly secured tosaid shaft and supported in the opening in said wall, a plate rigidlysecured to said armature in spaced relation to said wall, said plate andsaid wall having a. plurality of pairs of opposed arcuate recesses, thebottom surfaces of the recesses of each pair being inclined in oppositedirections, and the shallow portions of said recesses being normally inoverlapping relation, and balls supported between the overlappingportions of the respective pairs of recesses.

12. A device of the character described comprising an eleetro-magnet andan armature, means for supporting said armature for both axial androtary movement with relation to said magnet, said means including astationary portion and a movable portion, said portions havingcooperating surfaces so shaped and related as to provide an accuratelydefined path of movement for said armature such that axial movement ofsaid armature at constant speed toward said magnet will cause saidarmature to rotate at a rotational speed which substantiallycontinuously increases throughout its path of movement.

13. A device comprising an electro-magnet, an armature for said magnetmounted for axial movement and for rotary movement with relationthereto, a member fixed with relation to said magnet, a second memberconnected with said armature for movement thereby toward the firstmentioned member, said members having a plurality of pairs of opposedinclined surfaces and rotatable elements supported between said membersin rolling engagement with the inclined surfaces of the respective pairsof surfaces to cause said second member to rotate when it is movedtoward the first mentioned member by said magnet, and spring meansacting on said second member to preload said rotatable elements andprevent the displacement thereof when said magnet is deenergized.

14. A device comprising an electro-magnet, a rotatable armaturesupported for axial movement toward and from said magnet, meanscontrolled by said axial movement of said armature for impartingrotatory movement thereto, a member connected with said armature forrotatory movement therewith to effect two functions, a part forming astop connected with said armature for rotatory movement therewith, asecond stop supported independently of said armature for movement intoand out of an operative position in which it will be engaged by thefirst mentioned stop after the first of said functions has been effectedand before the second of said functions has been effected, and means formoving said second stop into and out of said operative position.

15. A device comprising a casing having opposed walls, a core carried byone of said walls and extending into said casing, a magnetizing coilextending about said core, the shaft mounted in said core for both axialmovement and rotary movement, an armature rigidly secured to said shaftand extending through the opposing wall of said casing, a, part rigidwith said armature and overlapping the outer surface of thelastmentioned wall, and means cooperating with said part and saidlast-mentioned wall to impart rol2 tary movement to said armahn'e whenthe latter is moved axially.

18. A mechanism comprising a supporting structure, an electro-magnetsupported by said structure, an axially movable armature for saidmagnet, means controlled by the axial movement to said armature towardsaid magnet for imparting rotatory movement to said armature, a shaftconnected with said armature for axial movement and rotatory movementthereby, a device to be operated including a shaft substantially inalinement with the first mentioned shaft, clutch members secured to theadjacent ends of the respective shafts and having on their adjacentfaces cooperating series of ratchet teeth, whereby the movements of thefirst mentioned shaft by said armature will move the clutch memberthereof into engagement with the other clutch member and then actuatethe latter.

17. A mechanism comprising a supporting structure, an electro-magnetsupported by said structure, an axially movable armature for saidmagnet, means controlled by the axial movement to said armature towardsaid magnet for imparting rotatory movement to said armature, a shaftconnected with said armature for axial movement and rotatory movementthereby, a device to be operated including a shaft substantially inalinement with the first mentioned shaft, clutch members secured to theadjacent ends of the respective shafts and having on their adjacentfaces cooperating series of ratchet teeth, whereby the movements of thefirst mentioned shaft by said armature will move the clutch memberthereof into engagement with the other clutch member andthen actuate thelatter, and yieldable means for moving the clutch member of the firstmentioned shaft out of engagement with said other clutch member and forrotating the same in a reverse direction.

18. A unitary device comprising two separately energizableelectro-magnets arranged side by side, separate armatures supported atthe outer sides of said magnets and movable axially in o positedirections by the respective magnets, a shaft rigidly connected withsaid armatures to cause both armatures to move axially in the samedirection upon the energization of either magnet, means controlled bythe movement of one of said armatures toward its magnet for rotatingsaid shaft in one direction, and means controlled by the movement of theother of said armatures toward its magnet for rotating said shaft in theother direction, each of said means including a part fixed with relationto said magnets, a part carried by said armature in opposed relation tothe first mentioned part, said parts having a plurality of pairs ofopposed inclined surfaces and rotatable elements supported between andin rolling engagement with the inclined surfaces of the respective pairsof surfaces.

19. A unitary structure comprising a single core, separately energizablecoils supported about the respective ends of said core, an armature ateach end of said core, separate means including a shaft rigidlyconnected with both armatures for supporting each of the respectivearmatures for axial movement toward said core by the energization of theadjacent coil, means controlled by the axial movement of the respectivearmatures for impartin rotary movement thereto in opposite directions,each of said controlled means including a part fixed with relation tosaid core and a part secured to one of said armatures, said parts havinga plurality of pairs of opposed in- 13 cllned surfaces, and rotatableelements supported Number between said parts in rolling engagement with1,222,431 the respective pairs of inclined surfaces and so 1,784,921arranged with relation thereto that the axial 1,802,459 movement ofeither of said armatures by the en- 5 1,807,955 erglzation of theadjacent coll will impart rotary 2,216,935 movement to both armatures.2,310,138 GEORGE H. LELAND. 2,353,756 2,377,244 REFERENCES CITED 1 Thefollowing references are of record in the N be flle of this patent: r

859,975 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 10 771,323 Ferret Oct.4.1904

14 Name Date McCarthy Apr. 10, 1917 Wledner June 17, 1930 Caruso Apr.28, 1931 Apple June 2, 1931 Breltensteln Oct. 8, 1940 Whlttaker Feb. 2,1943 Price July 18, 1944 Kauyoumjlan May 29, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTSCountry Date Germany May 14, 1938

